Multiple RS5 Climate Controls Dead After 200K Mileage

Had similar electrical issues on a 2011 S5 last winter. Multiple malfunctions pointed to a damaged wiring harness connector near the climate control module, not the fog sensor itself. The visibility and climate control problems were caused by corroded pins in the main connector block. The repair involved removing the lower dash panel to access and replace the entire connector assembly. What appeared as sensor-related problems turned out to be a basic connection issue. The mechanic found water intrusion had damaged several wire terminals, causing intermittent electrical faults across multiple systems. This wasnt a quick fix but addressing the root cause resolved all symptoms, AC function, washer system, and mirror heating all returned to normal. The car sensor readings were actually fine, the malfunction was in how signals were being transmitted through the damaged connector. Based on your symptoms, recommend having the wiring harness and main connector block inspected before replacing any sensors. These shared electrical issues often trace back to connection problems rather than individual component failures.

Thanks for sharing your experience with the wiring harness. My windshield fogging issues and electrical problems got resolved last month, but just curious, what did you end up paying for the complete repair? Since my dashboard warning lights kept flickering, I went ahead with replacing both the connector block and nearby sensors to be safe. Good to know about checking the connections first. After the fix, have you noticed any other electrical quirks or climate control issues popping up? My automotive sensor readings are all stable now but always concerned about potential recurring problems, especially with our older RS models.

Thanks for asking about the repair costs. My electrical issues including the humidity sensor malfunction were fully resolved for 95 Euro by fixing a faulty cable connection. Much cheaper than initially expected, since the automotive sensor itself was working properly. After addressing the connection problem six months ago, all systems have worked flawlessly, no more visibility issues or climate control malfunctions. The repair shop found the root cause quickly by testing the wiring connections first rather than jumping to replace components. The dashboard warnings completely disappeared once they repaired the electrical connection. The fog sensor and other climate control functions returned to normal operation. For anyone facing similar issues, definitely worth checking the wiring and connectors before replacing entire sensor units. The key was finding a shop that properly diagnosed the electrical issue instead of just swapping parts. Really pleased with how it turned out, especially considering the reasonable repair cost.

I took it to a different mechanic last week who actually knew what they were doing. The total repair came to 780 Euro which included replacing the main connector block and recalibrating two sensors. Bit steep but worth it to finally have everything working properly again. The repair process took about 4 hours, they had to remove parts of the dash to access the wiring harness. While checking the connections, they found water damage had affected multiple sensor calibration points. No wonder the climate control was acting up. Since the fix, all systems are running perfectly. No more windshield fogging issues, AC works great, and the washer nozzles function even in cold weather. The dashboard warning lights have completely disappeared. The mirror heaters kicked right back in too. Really glad I switched repair shops. The new mechanic took time to properly diagnose the malfunction instead of just throwing parts at the problem. Money well spent to have all the electrical gremlins sorted out properly.